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Long gone are the days when Colombia stole the spotlight as the fastest growing destination in Latin America.
As the novelty factor wears off and crime across the country returns to 1990s levels, impacting demand, growth appears to be slowing. to delay.
Colombia has been hit by a series of travel warnings since 2022 due to the increase in violent crimes against tourists and the widespread drug problem.
It is still a far cry from the hectic Pablo Escobar era, when corruption was virtually institutionalized things become bad.
On the other hand, there is this alternative Latin American destination that has recently and interestingly been cracking down on gangs, and then rose in terms of popularity:
Why is El Salvador so popular to visit all of a sudden?
You may have heard of El Salvador until now, but you’re unlikely to escape it now that it’s among the fastest growing destinations in the global South, outpacing former frontrunner Colombia, which has inevitably lost momentum :
Across the South American country, American citizens have lost their valuables, or worse, even their lives, after being duped by criminals, victims of violent robberies and even ill-intentioned Tinder dates.
El Salvador, located on the Central American Isthmus, also does not have the reputation of being one of the most peaceful states in the world.
However, unlike its southern counterpart, it has made significant progress in tackling crime in recent years.
Since March 2022, the government’s zero-tolerance approach to crime, which has led to mass arrests and the dismantling of militias and drug traffickers, a first step of its kind in the Latin world, has led to enormous reduced the feeling of insecurity at street level.
That does not mean that El Salvador is crime-free.
Basically the US State Department continues to regard it as one risk-more destination for Americans, urging them to travel there because of the crime and the ongoing ‘State of Exception’, but they are not warned about it not to go.
What is the situation today in El Salvador?
For example, in San Salvador, the Salvadoran capital, the state of exception has largely tackled the epidemic of petty crime and armed robbery, and security risks are now much lower than they were four or five years ago.
You shouldn’t walk around ‘no drone papaya‘, or looks like an obviously rich gringo: Keep your wits about you and be sure to leave those valuables in the hotel safe, your expensive iPhone in your pocket, and stay out of the suburbs and deserted, dimly lit areas at night.
Although the state of exception has not been without criticism, especially given the current government’s concentration of power, the purge of the justice system and the alleged mistreatment of prisoners in prisons, one thing is certain: crime has fallen considerablewith murders decreasing by 70%.
Regional partner Colombia is now the other way around ranks once again one of the three countries with the worst crime in the world, as a new study from Global Initiative shows, and in terms of tourism it is no surprise that Colombia has taken a hit in its pocket as tourists flee and their spend dollars elsewhere.
How do Colombia and El Salvador compare?
Anato, the Colombian Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies, has done just that confirmed The catering industry expects a ‘low’ occupancy rate in 2024, with an average of 57.70 percent of hotel rooms only occupied.
We promise not to bore you with data and figures anymore, but to wrap things up, it’s worth noting that UN Tourism, the leading entity monitoring travel trends worldwide, announced tourist arrivals in El Salvador enlarged by 90% since 2019.
It is officially the fastest growing country in Latin America, and globally it is only surpassed by Qatar, Europe’s hidden gem Albania and Saudi Arabia; Meanwhile, Colombian growth peaked after 2019 far behind at 29.6 percent.
These are still record numbers, with an average of more than 5.2 million tourists per year since the health crisis abated and international travel normalized, but it is noticeable that the country is no longer on its former podium.
That said, can El Salvador hold on to its recently acquired crown and aim even higher?
What does El Salvador have to offer tourists?
Despite being small, at only 13,000 square kilometers, El Salvador is one of the most topographically and biodiverse countries in Latin America: it lies on the largely underdeveloped Pacific coast, while the hinterland is crisscrossed by volcanic chains and green tropical reserves.
Like its Central American neighbors Costa Rica and Guatemala, it’s a place where adventure tourists seek more thrills than an over-toured patch of jungle in Mexico, and they’re usually rewarded with crowd-free beaches, breathtaking green scenery and vast mountains . vistas.
Impressive volcanic landscapes
It is the Volcanoes National Park leading nature attraction in El Salvador: As the name implies, the landscape is dominated by towering volcanoes, including Ilamatepec, the tallest in El Salvador, and the fourth tallest in Central America.
Trust us, there is one big choice of natural areas here, and El Salvador should certainly not be underestimated based on its limited landmass, but if you hope to be amazed, treading where few have roamed before and where modern development is unknown, Montecristo should be at the top from your list:
This walkable park offers majestic views of the mountainous region, and the covered trails, shaded by lush, arching trees, lead to crystal-clear streams and waterfalls (just make sure you’re accompanied by a guide, as you don’t want to be without equipment when crosses of a puma).
Crystalline lakes and volcanic sandy beaches
For the water babies there is Lake Coatepeque definitely not to be missed: a body of freshwater that rests at the very bottom of a caldera, it’s an easily recognizable symbol of El Salvador and an easy day trip from the colonial city of Santa Ana.
On the Pacific side, beach lovers eager to relax and commune with nature flock to Playa El Cuco, an oasis-like stretch of volcanic sand, on San Miguel’s pristine coast, while the more social species head instead to La Libertad goes. :
a bustling port city It is known for its El Tunco black sand beach and surfing scene, it has a well-maintained 19th century pier, dating back to El Salvador’s golden age, and it is the gateway to Walter Thilo Deininger Park, a well-known birdwatching hotspot .
Ancient Mayan ruins
For all the culture vultures out there, you should probably know that El Salvador has a rich ancient history: it was in fact inhabited by the Mayans – yes, the same ancient peoples who ruled Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula – and at one point, it was also part of the Spanish empire.
Joya de Ceren is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is a partially preserved Mayan ruin which stands out among hundreds of others for its rural character: it is not a sprawling city like Chichen Itza, but the equivalent of an old farming village.
It is often called the Pompeii of the Americas because it was also wiped out by an ash fall following a volcanic eruption: it is located in the Zapotitán Valley, about 35 kilometers northwest of San Salvador, the country’s capital, and it is an easy day trip to make.
You can book a tour that visits all of El Salvador’s major Mayan highlights, including Joya del Ceren, for just $95 at GetYourGuide.
El Salvador meets all requirements
Last but not least, El Salvador is considered the cheaper part of Central America, where travelers spend money an average of $61 per day on food, transportation, tours and tourist attractions, excluding accommodation, while tourists in Costa Rica are set back $115 per day of travel.
Could El Salvador position itself as one of the most popular destinations in Latin America?
It certainly could:
- It has the blooming nature
- It has a great culture
- It will be safer to visit
- It is still relatively cheap
- …and Americans are already falling in love with it
We’re just waiting to see how long the relatively safe current state of affairs will last, or whether we can expect El Salvador to be on track to recover from its crime-ridden past in the coming years – perhaps even reaching Level 2 status the side of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?
Who knows.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
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